Paul Johnson

Teardrop Centre

7 April - 18 June 2017

British artist Paul Johnson’s (b.1972) work is anchored by an enquiry into the way objects and images can transition historically, mentally and physically when filtered through the hands of the artist. Gathering images and objects from diverse sources, he then creates small, labour-intensive sculptures, collages and large-scale installations that stimulate imaginary associations for the viewer to decode. Notions of the outsider, rituals and belief systems are often a point of intrigue in his work.

Throughout history, the space in which art is made has long fascinated both creators and observers. For Johnson, the contemporary studio is a site of autonomy and production, yet also evokes a sense of uncertainty and anxiety. Examining this hermetic space as a universe in itself, Johnson dismantles his entire studio reconstructing fragments in Gallery 3, considering it as a sculptural object and visionary environment.